The Ford Barn

BUBBAS IGNITION · 09-24-2013, 02:09 PM

Sometimes you just got to stop and say WOW this is pretty cool.
You got to date stamp the object and think about the function and purpose when the part was being used etc.
This Harmon Collins unit is in pretty bad ( but very saveable) shape over all.
I love the twin helmet ignition coils on a home made bracket and got to believe they would have worked very well in the day !! Will show some testing as this project progresses................

Stay tuned ........

JM 35 Sedan · 09-24-2013, 02:18 PM

Jim, you have come a long way on these old distributors. I can remember when you first started posting here, I asked you about working on HC's and you said no...you did not work on those. Looks like times are a changing

. Will be interesting to follow your progress report on this one.

NealinCA · 09-24-2013, 02:40 PM

Bummer on the rotor, is that saveable? I have a couple of these that I need to send you...

Neal

BUBBAS IGNITION · 09-24-2013, 02:46 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by JM 35 Sedan

Jim, you have come a long way on these old distributors. I can remember when you first started posting here, I asked you about working on HC's and you said no...you did not work on those. Looks like times are a changing

. Will be interesting to follow your progress report on this one.

Yes i had a few Barners that demanded that we do some. Really isnt a problem as long as the plastics are ok.
In this case i think i can save the rotor with some careful epoxy work etc..

DD931 · 09-24-2013, 08:20 PM

Bubba - What will the HC do that a regular Ford unit won't? Do flathead engines run fast enough for two coils to really make a difference?

uncle max · 09-24-2013, 08:24 PM

Sponsored Links (Register now to hide all advertisements)

Not quite as bad as some of the carbs people send me.
Makes me wonder if they were brought up from the Titanic!
Sure is fun. Sometimes.

fortyfords · 09-25-2013, 07:02 AM

My understanding is that once the flathead is made to turn higher rpm's, the old ignition system can't keep up, so the HC was developed to stay with the higher rpm's. I wish someone would build rotors but I guess the high cost of making would not be equal to the demand.

BUBBAS IGNITION · 09-25-2013, 07:24 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by DD931

Bubba - What will the HC do that a regular Ford unit won't? Do flathead engines run fast enough for two coils to really make a difference?

You must think in regards to the pre small block chevrolet days. A flathead was one of the few v8 engine applications in 1939 ( for example) It was fairly easy to get them to rev up faster than the helmet distributor would go at the time.
There wasnt a lot of distributor offerings available. Using the harmon collins would allow the use of twin ignition coils, actually two four cylinder ignition systems. This would allow a much longer coil build up time and the coils of the day needed that extra time at higher rpms...

As a kid i worked at a gas station where we had dirt track cars that ran on a local dirt track. Rules was nothing newer than 1953, that ruled out the chevrolets for sure. I trashed ( gasp) many a 32 for a racer, welded in a hook to hold the trans in second and hid the electric fuel pump wrapped in a towel in the frame rails. A local guy flycut the heads to handle the extra camshaft lift and away we went.....

fortyfords · 09-26-2013, 06:59 AM

Bubba, thanks for that info, it always helps to know the reason for these improved items.

BUBBAS IGNITION · 09-26-2013, 04:37 PM

Got some more done today on this unit. Everything cleaned up pretty well and i think i can save the rotor.
I dont normally do these cases in black but this case was pretty bad even after a glass bead. I am waiting on some new harmon collins contacts .(one of these actually fell into two pieces. So this will go back to the shelf for a day or two..
Looking pretty good.... Cant wait to do up those stock coils and make some spark....

Hang in there ........

Charlie ny · 09-26-2013, 09:09 PM

Jim,
Would a regular pair of points work in that dist vs the H & C points ?
Charlie ny

BUBBAS IGNITION · 09-27-2013, 07:19 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Charlie ny

Jim,
Would a regular pair of points work in that dist vs the H & C points ?
Charlie ny

I guess you could make a set work with some time etc. The plate is set up for a dual set of Bendix aircraft # 10-357174 . Pretty pricey at $50 per set but still available thru the surplus aircraft folks. Takes them forever to ship etc...

JM 35 Sedan · 09-27-2013, 08:31 AM

I believe the aircraft point sets that fit HC distributors are made with a much higher quality point contact material than you would find on the typical points made for the Ford crab distributors.

Ol' Ron · 09-27-2013, 09:30 AM

I wonder if a 3D printer could nake a rotor?? I was tols by someone that the rotor hits some of the caps and usinf a dremmel to give greater clearance will solve some of these problems. I just sold my last H&C dist at Hershey last year. The rotor was in bad shape but still serviceable. I know the local High school has a 3D printer, I;ll check.

1963turnerjohn · 09-27-2013, 02:53 PM

I would be interested in 2 if a run of H&C rotors could be made
John

Kerk · 09-28-2013, 07:21 AM

I have been following this as I have a H.C. ste up I want to get done. It came on my 32 which I have heard was run at the Sanford Me. Drags. Walt had the engine to do over BUT the block had cracks. He has another one he is working on which will go in my 35 P.U. kc

F1 MIKE · 09-28-2013, 06:47 PM

I had a problem with my H-C that Hair Line Crack I see in your separator plate L-H points wire started grounding out to the housing causing a miss finally it was LIGHTS OUT.

BUBBAS IGNITION · 09-28-2013, 07:56 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by F1 MIKE

I had a problem with my H-C that Hair Line Crack I see in your separator plate L-H points wire started grounding out to the housing causing a miss finally it was LIGHTS OUT.

At this point i have ultrasonically cleaned the plastics and will use GE Gyptal paint to seal them before running.....

Walt Dupont--Me. · 09-28-2013, 08:22 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Kerk

I have been following this as I have a H.C. ste up I want to get done. It came on my 32 which I have heard was run at the Sanford Me. Drags. Walt had the engine to do over BUT the block had cracks. He has another one he is working on which will go in my 35 P.U. kc

Kerk, I used to run at Sanford back in the middle to late 50's. Had a Lincoln Zeffer dist converted to the helmet Ford dist on my 296 in a 39 coupe. Those were to good old days. Walt

BUBBAS IGNITION · 10-21-2013, 03:07 PM

New contacts came in today, been waiting on them. Unit came out pretty good for the shape it was in.
Coil mounting was pretty special and homemade. The carbon buttons were removed and a hole drilled in the side to allow a solid wire to be soldered into the hole. I replaced with new solid copper wire and sealed with a spark plug boot.
Primary wire was reused as the coils must have mounted above the distributor housing.
Rotor in all actuallity needs replacing , however i reinstalled a new carbon button and was carefull when installing the distributor cap.
I then wired up the coils and ran on tester for quite a while after syncing the contacts at 2000-5000 rpm plus. It ran at 7000 rpm for some time without the slightest problem.
Pretty easy to see why these were so popular in the day.........

09-24-2013, 02:09 PM	#1
BUBBAS IGNITION Senior Member Join Date: May 2010 Location: SPEEDWAY INDIANA Posts: 4,148	Harmon Collins Dual Coil WOW Sometimes you just got to stop and say WOW this is pretty cool. You got to date stamp the object and think about the function and purpose when the part was being used etc. This Harmon Collins unit is in pretty bad ( but very saveable) shape over all. I love the twin helmet ignition coils on a home made bracket and got to believe they would have worked very well in the day !! Will show some testing as this project progresses................ Stay tuned ........ __________________ If it Makes Spark, we do it !!!! www.bubbasignition.com [email protected]

09-24-2013, 02:18 PM	#2
JM 35 Sedan Senior Member Join Date: May 2010 Location: Near Rising Sun, Maryland Posts: 10,858	Re: Harmon Collins Dual Coil WOW Jim, you have come a long way on these old distributors. I can remember when you first started posting here, I asked you about working on HC's and you said no...you did not work on those. Looks like times are a changing . Will be interesting to follow your progress report on this one. __________________ *John* *"Never give up on what you really want to do. The person with big dreams is more powerful than one with all the facts". Albert Einstein*

09-24-2013, 02:40 PM	#3
NealinCA Senior Member Join Date: May 2010 Location: Central Coast, Calif. Posts: 839	Re: Harmon Collins Dual Coil WOW Bummer on the rotor, is that saveable? I have a couple of these that I need to send you... Neal

09-24-2013, 08:20 PM	#5
DD931 Senior Member Join Date: May 2010 Location: PA Poconos Posts: 723	Re: Harmon Collins Dual Coil WOW Bubba - What will the HC do that a regular Ford unit won't? Do flathead engines run fast enough for two coils to really make a difference?

09-24-2013, 08:24 PM	#6
uncle max Senior Member Join Date: May 2010 Location: SLC Utah Posts: 798	Re: Harmon Collins Dual Coil WOW Sponsored Links (Register now to hide all advertisements) Not quite as bad as some of the carbs people send me. Makes me wonder if they were brought up from the Titanic! Sure is fun. Sometimes. __________________ RIP Tyler... My Son, Helper & Best Friend. Feb '78 to Father's Day '10. www.97-express.com ~ [email protected]

09-25-2013, 07:02 AM	#7
fortyfords Senior Member Join Date: Mar 2011 Location: faucett, mo Posts: 419	Re: Harmon Collins Dual Coil WOW My understanding is that once the flathead is made to turn higher rpm's, the old ignition system can't keep up, so the HC was developed to stay with the higher rpm's. I wish someone would build rotors but I guess the high cost of making would not be equal to the demand.

09-26-2013, 06:59 AM	#9
fortyfords Senior Member Join Date: Mar 2011 Location: faucett, mo Posts: 419	Re: Harmon Collins Dual Coil WOW Bubba, thanks for that info, it always helps to know the reason for these improved items.

09-26-2013, 04:37 PM	#10
BUBBAS IGNITION Senior Member Join Date: May 2010 Location: SPEEDWAY INDIANA Posts: 4,148	Re: Harmon Collins Dual Coil WOW Got some more done today on this unit. Everything cleaned up pretty well and i think i can save the rotor. I dont normally do these cases in black but this case was pretty bad even after a glass bead. I am waiting on some new harmon collins contacts .(one of these actually fell into two pieces. So this will go back to the shelf for a day or two.. Looking pretty good.... Cant wait to do up those stock coils and make some spark.... Hang in there ........ __________________ If it Makes Spark, we do it !!!! www.bubbasignition.com [email protected]

09-26-2013, 09:09 PM	#11
Charlie ny BANNED Join Date: May 2010 Posts: 3,019	Re: Harmon Collins Dual Coil WOW Jim, Would a regular pair of points work in that dist vs the H & C points ? Charlie ny

09-27-2013, 08:31 AM	#13
JM 35 Sedan Senior Member Join Date: May 2010 Location: Near Rising Sun, Maryland Posts: 10,858	Re: Harmon Collins Dual Coil WOW I believe the aircraft point sets that fit HC distributors are made with a much higher quality point contact material than you would find on the typical points made for the Ford crab distributors. __________________ *John* *"Never give up on what you really want to do. The person with big dreams is more powerful than one with all the facts". Albert Einstein*

09-27-2013, 09:30 AM	#14
Ol' Ron Senior Member Join Date: May 2010 Location: Chester Vt Posts: 8,855	Re: Harmon Collins Dual Coil WOW I wonder if a 3D printer could nake a rotor?? I was tols by someone that the rotor hits some of the caps and usinf a dremmel to give greater clearance will solve some of these problems. I just sold my last H&C dist at Hershey last year. The rotor was in bad shape but still serviceable. I know the local High school has a 3D printer, I;ll check.

09-27-2013, 02:53 PM	#15
1963turnerjohn Senior Member Join Date: Dec 2011 Location: Ann Arbor / Canton Michigan Posts: 318	Re: Harmon Collins Dual Coil WOW I would be interested in 2 if a run of H&C rotors could be made John

09-28-2013, 07:21 AM	#16
Kerk Senior Member Join Date: May 2010 Posts: 642	Re: Harmon Collins Dual Coil WOW I have been following this as I have a H.C. ste up I want to get done. It came on my 32 which I have heard was run at the Sanford Me. Drags. Walt had the engine to do over BUT the block had cracks. He has another one he is working on which will go in my 35 P.U. kc

09-28-2013, 06:47 PM	#17
F1 MIKE Member Join Date: May 2010 Location: PETALUMA CALI Posts: 88	Re: Harmon Collins Dual Coil WOW I had a problem with my H-C that Hair Line Crack I see in your separator plate L-H points wire started grounding out to the housing causing a miss finally it was LIGHTS OUT.